Condensing apparatus



RAYMOND N. EHT, OFEDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUBE ELECTRIC & H ANUFACTUBING C0., A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONDENSING APPARATUS.

To all whom zt my concern.:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND N. EHRriAR'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood .Park in the cou'ntyv of Allegheny and State of ,Pennsylvamaa have made a new and useful Invention in Condenslng Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to condensing apparatus and has for an object to produce a compact and practically*self-contained condensing apparatus.

A further object is toproduce a condensing apparatus which is especially adapted to be employed on mobile apparatus.

A further object is to produce a self-contained condensing apparatus or system in which practically thesame cooling water is used over and over again .and in which means are provided for cooling this water.

A further object is to produce a condensing apparatus which contains only a relatively smallv amount of condensing and cooling medium and in which 'automatic means are provided for preventing wide fluctuations in the level of the liquids in various parts of the apparatus.

A further object is to produce a self-contained condensing apparatus in whlch a. radiator is provided for cooling the con-f densing water and in which means are provided for preventing air from being drawn into the condenser.

A further object is to produce a closed condensing system which is provided with automatic means for preventing the system from being filled up with water as steam enters the system and is condensed.

These and other objects are attained by means of apparatus embodying the features herein described, and illustrated 'in the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof.

The drawing is a diagrammatic view of a condensing apparatus embodying my invention, a part of the apparatus being shown in section.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a condensing installation which may be advantageously employed on locomotives, boats, or other mobile apparatus, or in any other place where a practically self-contained system is desira le.

The apparatus illustrated includes a condenser 5 of the jet type having a steam inlet' port 6, a cooling water inlet port 7 near its upper end, a water discharge port 9 communicating with a condensate well 9 which, as shown, forms'the lower part of the condenser.

A condensate pumpv 8 communicates with the port 9 and is adapted to withdraw the condensate and heated cooling water from the condensate well 9a and to deliver it through a conduit 10 to a radiator or cooling device 11, which may be of any type. As shown, the radiator consists of a shell hav- .ing cooling air passages or tubes 11 extending through it. I have also shown a fan l2 for drawing air through these tubes so as to promote the eiicient 'cooling of the water which passes through the radiator. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the radiator opens at its lower end into a cold well or storage tank 13 from which the cooled water delivered by the radiator may be withdrawn and delivered to the cooling .water inlet 7 of the condenser by means 4of a conduit 14. After serving as 'cooling water and receiving the heat of the steam to be condensed, this water is again drawn from the condenser, along with the condensate, and is returned'to the radiator 11 to be cooled. In order that aii,1 will not be drawn into the condenser through the conduit 14, I have provided a well l5 in the bottom of the tank 13 into which the conduit extends so that its inlet is always submerged. The air carried into the tank 13 with the water may be vented to the atmosphere through a port 16 or may be withdrawn by a suitable air pump.

In view of thenfact that condensate, resulting from the condensation of the steam in the condenser, is constantly augmenting the water contained in the system,l means must be employed for removing the excess water. The means illustrated consists of a float 17 which responds to variations in the level of the water in the storage 'tank 13 and controls a valve 18 in a branch or by-pass pipe 19, which is adapted to discharge water from' the conduit 10, and hence the system, before it is delivered to the radiator. With this arrangement the rate of discharge is controlled by the water level in the tank 13 and consequently a substantiall constant amount of water is maintained 1n the system. The water withdrawn may advantageously be employed as boiler feed water or itmay be returned to the main Water supply tank.

In the apparatus illustrated it is also desirable to have a Huid controlled valve 20 for controlling the delivery of water to the conduit 14 and for thereby preventing such quantities of water from being Withdrawn from the tank 13 that air will be drawn into the condenser through the conduit 14. T he system contains a comparatively small amount of Water and the valve 2O prevents emptying of the tank 13 in response to sudden increases in vacuum in the condenser 5 such as might occur upon the sudden cutting off of the load and therefore the supply of steam to the condenser.

l have also shown a oat 21 in the condensate well 9a of the condenser for controlling a valve 22 in the conduit 14. This lioat and the valve 22 controlled by it prevents the condenser from robbing other parts of the system of Water in case of a sudde-n increase in vacuum and also prevents ilooding of the condenser. it further prevents the water level from rising so high in the condenser that rocking and swaying of thecondenser will cause the Water to open the vacuum breaker, with which the apparatus may be provided.

While l havevdescribed and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, l de sire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular form of oondenser or radiator and that various changes, modifications, substitutions, omissions and additions may be made in the apparatus illustrated Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A condensing apparatus comprising a condenser, means for receiving and cooling the fluids Withdrawn from the condenser, means for storing said fluids, means for delivering cooled fluid from the storing means to the condenser, and liquid-level responsive means for maintaining the distribution of fluids throughout the apparatus so as to prevent any part of the apparatus from being robbed of fluid by another.

2. In a self-contained condensing system, a condenser, means for withdrawing liquids from the condenser, means for cooling said liquids, means for returning the liquids to the condenser to be used again as cooling liquids, and means responsive to variations in the amount of the liquid in various parts of the system for preventing the flooding or draining of any of the major members of the system.

3. A. condensing system comprising a con- 'densen a device for' cooling liquids withdrawn from the condenser, means for storing liquids. Withdrawn from said device, means for delivering said liquids back to the condenser, means for maintaining the circulation of the liquids through the system, means for controlling the-total amount of liquid in the system and means for maintaining an approximately constant distribution of the liquids throughout the system.

4. A condensing apparatus comprising a condenser and an enclosed system for cooling the cooling Water delivered from the condenser and for delivering it again to the condenser, and liquid-level responsive means for maintaining a definite distribution of water throughout the system.

5. A condensing apparatus comprising a condenser, means for receiving and cooling liquid Withdrawn from the condenser, means for storing said cooled liquid, means for returning said liquid to the condenser to be employed as cooling liquid, means for preventing the draining of the storing means by the condenser, means for preventing flooding of the condenser, and means responsive to variations in the liquid-level in said storage means for discharging excess liquid from the system and for maintaining a denite amount of liquid therein.

6. ln combination with a condenser, a water circulating system comprising a cooler, a conduit for delivering water from the cooler to the condenser, and means responsive to variations in the amount of water within said system for discharging excess water therefrom.

7. ln combination with a condenser, a water circulating system comprising a conduit for delivering water from the con-v denser, a cooler, a conduit receiving water from the cooler for delivering water to the condenser, and a valve controlled by variations in the amount of water traversing the system for discharging excess water therefrom prior to delivery to the cooler.

8. ln a mobile condensing system, a condenser, means for withdrawing condensate from the condenser, means in which said condensate is cooled, means for'storing the cooled liquids, means for delivering the cooled liquid to the condenser, and means responsive to variations of the liquid-level in the said storage means for discharging excess fluids from the system after said fluids are withdrawn from the condenser and before being delivered to the cooling means.

9. In a mobile condensing system, a condenser, means for withdrawing condensate from the condenser, means in which said condensate is cooled, means for storing the cooled liquids, means for delivering ithe cooled liquid to the condenser, means responsive to variations of the liquid-level in the said storage means for dischargi excess fluids from the system after said uids are withdrawn from the condenser and be- Y fore being delivered to the cooling means,

and means for preventing flooding of the condenser.

10. In a mobile condensing system, a condenser, means for withdrawing'condensate from the condenser, means in which said condensate is cooled, means for storing the cooled liquids, means for delivering the cooled liquid to the condenser, means for preventing the condenser from draining the V.storing means, and means responsive to variations of the liquid-level in the said-storage means for discharging excess fluids from the system after said fluids are withdrawn from the condenser and before being delivered to the cooling means.

11. In a mobile condensing system, a condenser, means for withdrawing'condensate from the condenser, meansV in which Said condensate is cooled, means for storing the cooled liquids, means for delivering the cooled liquid to the condenser, means for preventing the condenser from draining the storing means, means responsive to variations of the liquid-level in the said storage means for dischargin excess fluids from the system after said flui s are Withdrawn from the condenser and before being delivered to the cooling means, and means for preventing flooding of therv condenser.

`In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of September, 1917.

v RAYMOND N. EHRI-IART.

Witness:

C. W. MCGHEE. 

